Ishtup-Ilum 𒅖𒁾𒀭
Military governor of Mari
Statue of Ishtup-Ilum.
Reign	c.2147–2136 BCE
Predecessor	Nûr-Mêr
Successor	Ishgum-Addu
Dynasty	Shakkanakku dynasty

Mari

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Location of Mari, where Ishtup-Ilum ruled.

Ishtup-Ilum, also Ishtup-El (𒅖𒁾𒀭, Ish-dub-ilum, c. 2147–2136 BCE) ^[1] was a ruler of the city of Mari, one of the military governors known as Shakkanakku in northern Mesopotamia, after the fall of the Akkadian Empire. ^[2] He was probably contemporary with the Second Dynasty of Lagash, around the time of Gudea. ^[1] He was the son of Ishma-Dagan and brother of Nûr-Mêr, both Shakkanakkus of Mari before him, and, according to the dynastic lists, he ruled after them for a period of 11 years. ^[3]

He is known from inscriptions mentioning the building of a temple, as well as from a monumental statue, discovered in Mari. ^[2]

Statue of Ishtup-Ilum

His statue was discovered by the team of André Parrot on 14 March 1936, Syria. It has a rather simple and coarse design, a provincial characteristic during this period, and is significantly less sophisticated than the statues of his successors, such as Puzur-Ishtar. ^[4] The statue is now in the Aleppo National Museum, Syria. ^{[5] [6]}

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  Ishtup-Ilum excavation in Mari, Syria in 1936, under André Parrot
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  Ishtup-Ilum statue (head)
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  Ishtup-Ilum statue (back, with inscription)
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  Ishtup-Illum statue (three quarters)
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  Ishtup-Illum statue (side)
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  Ishtup-Ilum cuneiform inscription on the statue: "Ishtup-Ilum, Shakkanakku of Mari" (𒅖𒁾𒀭 𒄊𒀴 𒈠𒌷𒆠 Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku Mari-ki)

Dedication tablets

Ishtup-Ilum is also known from a dedication tablet for the "Temple of the King of the Country" (either Dagan or Enlil) ^[7] with the inscription:

𒅖𒁾𒀭 / 𒄊𒀴 𒈠𒌷𒆠 / 𒌉𒅖𒈣𒀭𒁕𒃶 / 𒄊𒀴 𒈠𒌷𒆠 / 𒂍 / 𒀭𒈗𒈤𒁴 / 𒅁𒉌 ^[8]

Ishtup-Ilum / Shakkanakku Mari-ki / dumu Ishma-Dagan / Shakkanakku Mari-ki / e / ^dLugal-mādim / ibni ^[9]

"Ishtup-Ilum, Shakkanakku of Mari, son of Ishma-Dagan, Shakkanakku of Mari, built the Temple for God Lugal-mātim (the "Lord of the Land", identified with Dagan or Enlil)" ^{[10] [11]}

—  Dedication tablet of Ishtup-Ilum ^{[12] [13] [14]}

This implies that Ishtup-Ilum was the builder of this "Temple of the King of the Country", in which were also discovered beautiful copper statues of guardian lions, the " Lions of Mari", probably installed later during a rebuilding of the temple in the early 2nd millennium BCE. The Temple was excavated in 1938 by André Parrot. ^[15]

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  Tablet of Ishtup-Ilum. Obverse: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of Ishma-Dagan, Shakkanakku". Reverse (hidden from view): " of Mari, the Temple of the King of the Country he has built". Louvre Museum AO 19823 ^[16]
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  Another tablet of Ishtup-Ilum. Obverse: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of Ishma-Dagan, Shakkanakku of Mari". Louvre Museum
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  Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the "Temple of Lions", Mari with dedication tablet of Ishtup-Ilum. Louvre Museum AO 19827 ^[17]
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  Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the Temple of Lions, Mari. Tablet inscription: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of Ishma-Dagan, Shakkanakku of Mari, the Temple of the King of the Country he has built". Louvre Museum AO 19827 ^[18]
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  Ishtup-Ilum deposit for the Temple of Lions, Mari. Tablet inscription: "Ishtup-Ilum Shakkanakku of Mari, son of Ishma-Dagan, Shakkanakku of Mari, the Temple of the King of the Country he has built". Louvre Museum AO 19827 ^[19]

References